Middle Georgia high school football capsules
TOP FIVE
CENTRAL VS. HOWARD
Game time/site: 7:30 p.m./Ed DeFore Sports Complex.
Series history: Central leads 4-1.
Last meeting: Howard won 16-8 in 2014.
Key Chargers: Derrick Evans (Sr., QB); Antonio Sanders (Jr., RB); Ivory Childers (Sr., WR).
Key Huskies: Courvoisier King (Sr., QB); Tyjae Lockett (Sr., OL/DL); JaQwun Stinson (Sr., RB/OLB).
Scouting report: Two teams with strong upsides meet in a non-region contest. Howard has opened up its passing game this season, with King throwing for 513 yards through two games. That’s two-thirds of what he threw for all of last season. Central’s defense, meanwhile, started the season with a shutout of Wilkinson County. The Chargers kept the pressure on the Huskies late in last season’s game, and many of the skill players from both teams are returning starters. This should be one of the best games in Bibb County this season.
WESTSIDE AT HARRIS COUNTY
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Westside leads 3-0.
Last meeting: Westside won 35-29 in 2014.
Key Seminoles: Steve Dolphus (Sr., WR); Abdul Davis (Sr., DE); Gerimie Mitchell (Sr., WR).
Key Tigers: Josh Stein (Sr. WR/DB), Jakevis Jarrett (Sr., WR); Juan O’Neal (Sr., RB).
Scouting report: Former Jones County head coach Dwight Jones led GHSA Class AAAAA Harris County to a 9-3 record in his first season with the Tigers last year, but he faces a rebuilding effort following the graduation losses of quarterback TaQuon Marshall (Georgia Tech), running back Tae Crowder (Georgia) and the entire offensive line. The Tigers opened last week with a 45-6 loss at Phenix City Central (Alabama), a team that is ranked third behind Hoover and Prattville in the Alabama Associated Press Class 7A poll and 10th among all classes in Alabama in the AL.com Power 25. Westside, meanwhile, used a strong second quarter to roll to a 38-19 victory over Rutland in its season and Region 2-AAA opener.
STRATFORD AT WESLEYAN
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Wesleyan leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Wesleyan won 27-14 in 2014.
Key Wolves: Jordan Mack (Sr., DB); Banks Ramsey (Soph., QB); Tucker Cannon (Sr., WR).
Key Eagles: O’Showen Williams (Sr., WB/DB); Quintez Cephus (Sr., SE/DB); Carter Canady (Sr. G/DE).
Scouting report: Ranked sixth in Class AA, Wesleyan rolled to big wins over Walker and East Hall to start the season. A senior class of 25 players gives Wesleyan plenty of depth, and Ramsey was incredibly accurate (18-of-22, 197 yards) against East Hall. Stratford, meanwhile, claimed a 41-33 win at Savannah Country Day, a win that came with the typical first-game miscues and mis-steps that coaches like to call “correctable” errors. Still, quarterback Sim Patrick picked up a win in his first game with Stratford, and Williams recorded 238 yards of total offense.
MACON COUNTY AT VETERANS
Game time/site: 7:30 p.m./Perry
Series history: Macon County leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Macon County won 27-7 in 2014.
Key Bulldogs: Malik Walker (Sr., TE/DL); K’Hari Lane (Jr., QB); Raymond Smith (Sr, OL/DL); Kyron Smith (Sr, CB/RB); Akeeviuos McLendon (Soph., RB).
Key Warhawks: Isaiah Gray (Sr., WR/CB); Logan Hurless (Sr., OL/DL); BJ Brown (Sr., C); Desjuan Harris (Sr., RB); Logan Byrd (Sr., QB/P).
Scouting report: Macon County showed little dropoff with last week’s 48-33 win over Americus-Sumter, getting plenty of yards on the ground and through the air in avenging last year’s loss. Veterans comes in with a tough loss to Houston County hanging over it, but the Warhawks won’t be surprised by how good the Bulldogs are.
WASHINGTON COUNTY AT MARY PERSONS
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Washington County leads 10-7.
Last meeting: Washington County won 31-7 in 2014.
Key Golden Hawks: Caesar Cruz (Sr., DT); Houston Channel (Sr., QB); Darius Tucker (Jr., RB); Jacob Cabe (Sr., DB); Djimon Brooks (Sr., OL/DL).
Key Bulldogs: Caleb Etheridge (Jr., OL); Zach Harvey (Jr., RB); Malik Herring (Jr., DL); Will Bazemore (Sr., TE); Jake Johnston (Sr., QB).
Scouting report: For a fairly short series, there are loads of tradition and memories in this battle. But the Golden Hawks have won eight straight, with two shutouts in the span. Both are in rebuilding modes, but perhaps not as much as some thought. Neither team is considered a candidate for the Georgia Dome, which won’t detract from the intensity a bit.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH
EVANS AT NORTHSIDE
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Northside leads 19-6.
Last meeting: Northside won 38-6 in 2014.
Key Knights: Ryan Hopper (Sr., LB); Chris Russell (Jr., LB/WR); B.J. Berry (Sr., RB).
Key Eagles: Desean Dinkins (Jr., RB); Caleb Kelly (Jr., OL); Yacht Jones (Sr., LB); Darius Richardson (Sr., DL); Tobias Oliver (Jr., QB).
JONES COUNTY AT CROSS CREEK
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Jones County leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Jones County won 63-6 in 2014.
Key Greyhounds: Torrez Finney (Sr., DL); Shareez Hamm (Sr., WR); Logan Gordon (Sr., LB); Bradley Hunnicutt (Jr., QB).
Key Razorbacks: Jesse Marshall (Jr, RB); Mike Brown (Sr., OL); Keshawn Dyson (Sr., LB).
WARNER ROBINS AT GREENBRIER
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Warner Robins leads 3-0.
Last meeting: Warner Robins won 44-6 in 2014.
Key Demons: Ckeldrin Davis (Sr., OL/DL); Bailey Harrell (Sr., C); Tyrome Tharpe (Sr., LB); Oneya Butler (Sr., LB); Javian Bradford-Jackson (Jr., RB).
Key Wolfpack: Hayden Harrison (Soph., QB); Trevon Sharper (Sr., RB); Andrew Mumford (Sr., CB).
GROVETOWN AT HOUSTON COUNTY
Game time: 6 p.m., Saturday
Series history: Houston County leads 2-1.
Last meeting: Houston County won 41-10 in 2014.
Key Skylor Vance (Sr., QB); Shiyear Woodbury (Sr., RB): Torrence Green (Jr., LB).
Key Bears: Bennie Steadman (Sr., LB); Payton Johnson (Sr., WR); Amari Colbert (Sr., WR); Rontravious Byron (Sr., DE); Daniel Jackson (Sr., OL).
EAGLE’S LANDING AT SOUTHWEST
Game time/site: 7:30 p.m./Henderson Stadium.
Series history: Eagle’s Landing leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Eagle’s Landing won 41-7 in 2014.
Key Golden Eagles: Tyler Van Heflin (Sr., QB); Antonio Gibson (Sr., ATH); LunDerek Craig (Sr., RB/LB).
Key Patriots: Jordan Slocum (Fr., QB); Sederan Scott (Jr., RB); Jaquavious Solomon (Jr., WR).
WARREN COUNTY AT TATTNALL SQUARE
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Tattnall leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Tattnall won 51-18 in 2014.
Key Screaming Devils: Jermaine Berry (Sr., ATH); Timothy Seals (Jr., RB).
Key Trojans: Aubrien Kemp (Sr., FS); Ahmad Barron (Jr., RB); Christian Rodgers (Jr., DT).
PERRY AT PEACH COUNTY
Game time: 8 p.m.
Series history: Peach County leads 30-9.
Last meeting: Peach County won 40-12 in 2014.
Key Panthers: Ashton Strange (Sr., OL/DL); Damion Bagley (Sr., Ath.); Jamir Johnson (Sr., Ath.); Anfernee Roberson (Jr., DE/TE).
Key Trojans: Fletcher Hooks (Jr., LB); Bryce Mackey (Sr., OL); Kevin Nixon (Jr., LB); Tyrique McGhee (Sr., QB/DB/KR); James Jackson (Jr., RB).
MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT CRAWFORD COUNTY
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Montgomery County leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Montgomery County won 14-7 in 2014.
Key Montgomery County Eagles: Kris Daniels (Soph., QB); Clayton Harvey (Soph., LB); Gamel Lawton (Sr., DL).
Key Crawford County Eagles: Tyrick Reeves (Sr., QB); Jamorris Pickard (Soph., OL/DL); Adrian Lockhart (Sr., OL/DL).
REST OF THE SCHEDULE
Trinity-Christian-Sharpsburg at Westfield
Windsor at Dominion Christian
Twiggs County at East Laurens
Alcovy at Baldwin
Pinewood Christian at Brentwood
Monticello at Jackson
Covenant at Nathanael Greene
Gatewood at Trinity Christian-Dublin
John Milledge at Bethlehem Christian
Johnson County at Telfair County
Putnam County at Morgan County
Toombs County at Vidalia
Washington-Wilkes at Wilkinson County
Hancock Central at Greene County
Wilcox County at Hawkinsville
Wheeler County at Lanier County
Portal at Treutlen
Turner County at Dooly County
Taylor County at Manchester
Crisp County at Colquitt County
Pike County at Upson-Lee
Fitzgerald at Irwin County
North Cobb Christian at Jeff Davis
West Laurens at Bleckley County
GMC at Glascock County
Heart Academy at CFCA
Crisp Academy at Westwood
Fullington at Sherwood
Piedmont at Griffin Christian
Robert Toombs at Bulloch
Heritage at Westside Christian
John Hancock at Peoples Baptist
This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 8:43 PM with the headline "Middle Georgia high school football capsules ."